PUBLIC DISCLOSURE January 17, 2006 COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION Liberty Bank RSSD - 478766 500 Linden Avenue South San Francisco, California 94080 Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco 101 Market Street San Francisco, California 94105 NOTE: This document is an evaluation of this institution s record of meeting the credit needs of its entire community, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, consistent with safe and sound operation of the institution. This evaluation is not, nor should it be construed as, an assessment of the financial condition of this institution. The rating assigned to this institution does not represent an analysis, conclusion or opinion of the federal financial supervisory agency concerning the safety and soundness of this financial institution.
TABLE OF CONTENTS INSTITUTION... 1 PERFORMANCE CONTEXT Description of Institution... 2 Description of Assessment Area... 3 CONCLUSIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Scope of Examination... 6 Loan-to-Deposit Ratio... 6 Lending in Assessment Area... 6 Lending by Business Revenue... 7 Geographic Distribution of Loans... 7 Response to Complaints... 8 Fair Lending or Other Illegal Credit Practices Review... 8 GLOSSARY OF TERMS...9
INSTITUTION INSTITUTION S CRA RATING: This institution is rated Satisfactory. The major factors supporting the institution s rating include: Reasonable loan-to-deposit ratio; Majority of loans originated within the assessment area; Reasonable penetration of loans to businesses with gross annual revenues of $1 million or less; and Reasonable geographic distribution of small business loans, with no conspicuous gaps in lending patterns. - 1 -
PERFORMANCE CONTEXT Description of Institution Liberty Bank is headquartered in South San Francisco, California and was established on April 7, 1982. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Bancorp, which was established on July 1, 2001. As of September 30, 2005, the bank reported total assets of $189 million. Liberty Bank currently operates four offices in Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Palo Alto, and South San Francisco. A commercial lender, the bank focuses on providing banking services to small- to medium-size businesses and professionals. The bank prides itself on personalized customer service that complements its credit and deposit products. Commercial products include credit facilities for commercial real estate, working capital, operating lines of credit, accounts receivable, equipment, and construction. Other commercial products include business checking and savings accounts, courier, cash management, and merchant bankcard services. The bank also offers consumer deposit and loan products primarily to accommodate the personal needs of its business clients. These products include checking and savings accounts, auto loans, and home equity loans and lines of credit. ATM services are available at all branch offices. In the table below, the September 30, 2005, Consolidated Report of Condition and Income shows the loan portfolio composition. Loan Type Dollar Amount (000s) Percent of Total Loans Commercial/Industrial & Non-Farm Non-Residential Real Estate $101,881 87.8% Construction & Land Development $8,716 7.5% Secured by 1-4 Family Residential Real Estate $3,607 3.1% Farm/Agriculture $1,157 1.0% Consumer Loans & Credit Cards $580 0.5% All Other Loans $55 0.1% Total (Gross) $115,996 100% Liberty Bank faces no legal or financial impediments that would prevent it from helping to meet the credit needs of its assessment area consistent with its business strategy, size, financial capacity, and local economic conditions. The bank received a satisfactory rating at its previous Community Reinvestment Act examination conducted as of January 22, 2002. - 2 -
Description of Assessment Area The assessment area consists of San Francisco and San Mateo counties in their entirety; the northern portion of Santa Cruz County from the San Mateo County line in the north to the city of Aptos in the south; and the city of Palo Alto. This assessment area is a part of the San Jose- San Francisco-Oakland Combined Statistical Area (CSA 488). San Francisco and San Mateo counties belong to the San Francisco-San Mateo-Redwood City Metropolitan Division (MD 41884). Santa Cruz County comprises the Santa Cruz-Watsonville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA 42100). Palo Alto is located in Santa Clara County, which is a part of the San Jose- Sunnyvale-Santa Clara Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA 41940). These areas share many economic and demographic characteristics. However, since they represent separate metropolitan divisions and metropolitan statistical areas, they are discussed separately. The Palo Alto office is the bank s newest branch (opened in November 2004) and had limited small business lending activity (only four loans). Consequently, this area will not be discussed. The following table shows the distribution of census tracts, population, and families in the assessment area, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Middle- and upper-income census tracts account for the majority of the area and most families reside in these tracts. Census Tracts Population by Census Tract Families by Census Tract 2000 Census Tract Income Level Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Low 28 7.4% 114,991 6.7% 19,892 5.4% Moderate 86 22.6% 393,991 23.0% 73,598 19.8% Middle 150 39.5% 731,927 42.7% 161,782 43.6% Upper 114 30.0% 471,817 27.6% 115,967 31.2% Unknown 2 0.5% 42 0.0% 0 0% Total 380 100% 1,712,768 100% 371,239 100% The California Department of Finance estimates San Francisco County s 2005 population to be nearly 800,000. 1 San Francisco is the only city located in San Francisco County. The California Department of Finance estimates San Mateo County s 2005 population to be more than 723,000. 2 Redwood City, San Mateo, and South San Francisco are the county s principal cities. The California Department of Finance estimates Santa Cruz County s 2005 population to be 260,200. 3 Santa Cruz is the principal city within the assessment area but it also includes the communities of Aptos, Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, and Scotts Valley. 1 California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information by Geography, County Snapshot San Francisco County 2004; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. 2 California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information by Geography, County Snapshot San Mateo County 2004; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. 3 California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information by Geography, County Snapshot Santa Cruz County 2004; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov. - 3 -
The assessment area is a competitive market for financial services with Liberty Bank holding a very small portion of deposit market share. Deposits are concentrated among four large national or regional institutions that collectively hold 71 percent of total deposits in the area. As of June 30, 2005, Liberty Bank held $160 million of these funds which represented 0.1 percent of the market share and ranked 28 th out of 67 banks and thrifts operating 461 offices. 4 The market for business credit also is competitive and includes both bank and non-bank companies. A total of 162 lenders vied for small business loan originations in 2004. 5 San Francisco and San Mateo Counties are a competitive market for financial services with Liberty Bank holding a very small portion of the market share. Deposits are concentrated among four large national or regional institutions that collectively hold 73 percent of the market share. As of June 30, 2005, Liberty Bank held $108 million in deposits in these counties representing 0.1 percent of the market share and ranking 31 st out of 62 banks and thrifts operating 401 offices. 6 Additionally, a total of 156 lenders vied for small business loan originations in 2004. 7 Northern Santa Cruz County is a less competitive market for financial services; nonetheless, Liberty Bank still holds a very small portion of the market share. The top four financial institutions collectively hold 68 percent of the market share. As of June 30, 2005, the bank held $52 million in deposits which represented 2.1 percent of the total and ranked 8 th out of 12 banks and thrifts operating 31 offices in the area. 8 In contrast to the aforementioned counties, only 48 lenders vied for small business loan originations in 2004. 9 Business and Economic Conditions Small businesses represent a significant component of the local economies in the assessment area. As shown in the exhibit below, Dun & Bradstreet reports that businesses with gross annual revenues of $1 million or less accounted for 86 percent of all businesses. In San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, small businesses also represent 86 percent of all businesses, but in northern Santa Cruz County these businesses account for 91 percent. According to community contacts, micro-loans and other credit facilities designed for early stage and expanding small businesses represent a significant credit need. These loan facilities can help meet the credit needs of businesses experiencing temporary funding gaps which can sometimes accompany expansionary periods. 4 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Market Share and Bank Holding Company, Summary of Deposits Market Share Report, June 30, 2005; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www3.fdic.gov/sod. 5 Information based on 2004 aggregate data consisting of institutions required to file annual CRA data. 6 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Market Share and Bank Holding Company, Summary of Deposits Market Share Report, June 30, 2005; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www3.fdic.gov/sod. 7 Information based on 2004 aggregate data consisting of institutions required to file annual CRA data. 8 Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Market Share and Bank Holding Company, Summary of Deposits Market Share Report, June 30, 2005; (accessed February 8, 2006) available at http://www3.fdic.gov/sod. 9 Information based on 2004 aggregate data consisting of institutions required to file annual CRA data. - 4 -
Income Categories Total Businesses by Census Tract Businesses by Census Tract and Revenue Size 10 Less Than or Equal to $1 Million Greater Than $1 Million Revenue Not Reported Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Low 12,505 14.4% 10,094 13.5% 1,868 20.7% 543 19.1% Moderate 17,218 19.9% 14,479 19.3% 2,084 23.1% 655 23.0% Middle 31,578 36.4% 27,813 37.2% 2,754 30.5% 1,011 35.5% Upper 25,387 29.3% 22,446 30.0% 2,306 25.6% 635 22.3% Unknown 38 0.0% 25 0.0% 9 0.1% 4 0.1% Total 86,726 100% 74,857 100% 9,021 100% 2,848 100% Percentage of Total Businesses: 86.3% 10.4% 3.3% The political boundaries within the assessment area share many economic and demographic characteristics; however, there are some notable differences. The economy of the San Francisco- Oakland-Fremont Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA 41860) (which also includes Alameda, Contra Costa, and Marin Counties) is expanding. During the two-year period ending December 31, 2004, unemployment fell from 5.8 percent to 4.7 percent and Gross Metro Product increased by 3.2 percent. The local economy is primarily driven by government, tourism and high-technology. State, local and federal governments are the leading employers with 128,074 employees. Full- and limited-service restaurants (63,400), traveler accommodation (23,700), and management of companies and enterprises (22,500) also are leading industry employers. Hightechnology businesses employ 81,400 workers and account for nearly nine percent of total employment. Accordingly, professional and business services (19 percent), government (14 percent), and leisure and hospitality services (12 percent) lead area employment percentages. 11 Santa Cruz County also is expanding but has a more retail driven local economy. Unemployment decreased from 8.6 percent in 2003 to 7.7 percent in 2004, while the Gross Metro Product increased by 4.5 percent. Local, state, and federal government are the county s leading employers, with 20,903 employees and account for nearly 23 percent of total employment. Retail trade (15 percent), education and health services (13 percent), and leisure and hospitality services (12 percent) are the leading industry employers. 12 San Francisco Bay Area housing is among the most expensive in the country. Housing prices soared during the two-year period ending December 2005, and housing affordability was nearly at an all-time low. This is evidenced by the Housing Affordability Index (HAI), a ratio that calculates the percentage of households in a given area that can afford to purchase a medianpriced home. According to this index, in December 2005, the HAI for the San Francisco Bay Area was 12 percent, a decline from the year ago period when the ratio equaled 13 percent. In contrast, the HAI for the United States equaled 49 percent for the December 2005 period. 13 10 Information based on 2004 Dun & Bradstreet data. 11 Precis METRO: San Francisco (West Chester, Pennsylvania: Economy.com, August 2005). 12 Precis METRO: Santa Cruz (West Chester, Pennsylvania: Economy.com, August 2005). 13 California Association of Realtors, February 9, 2006 (accessed February 9, 2006), available at http://www.car.org. - 5 -
During the same period, the median home price in San Francisco increased 10 percent from $680,000 in December 2004, to $750,000 in December 2005. The San Mateo County median home price increased 12 percent and is now $745,000, while housing in Santa Cruz County increased 18 percent to $702,500. 14 CONCLUSIONS WITH RESPECT TO PERFORMANCE CRITERIA Scope of Examination The CRA performance was evaluated using the small bank examination procedures. The evaluation was based upon the following performance criteria: Loan volume in comparison to deposits (Loan-to-Deposit Ratio); Lending inside and outside the assessment area (Lending in Assessment Area); Distribution of lending to businesses with different revenue sizes (Lending by Business Revenue); and Dispersion of lending throughout the assessment area (Geographic Distribution of Loans). Responsiveness to consumer complaints was not evaluated since the bank received no CRA-related complaints during the review period. The CRA performance review was based on small business loans originated between January 1, 2004, and September 30, 2005. The 119 small business loans originated during the review period were used to evaluate the Lending in Assessment Area and Geographic Distribution of Loans. A sample of 59 loans was used to evaluate Lending by Business Revenue. Loan-to-Deposit Ratio The loan-to-deposit ratio is reasonable and meets standards for satisfactory performance. The eight-quarter average of 74 percent is below the state average and national peer ratios of 80 and 81 percent, respectively. However, local peers range from 59 percent to 98 percent. Lending in Assessment Area The concentration of loans extended inside the assessment area meets standards for satisfactory performance as the majority of the loans were originated within these boundaries. The percentages of small business loans extended within the assessment area were 82 percent and 84 percent by number and dollar volume, respectively. 14 California Association of Realtors, Trends in California Real Estate, Volume 27, Number 1, January 2006. - 6 -
Lending by Business Revenue Lending patterns demonstrate a reasonable penetration among businesses of different sizes. Lending to small businesses (49 percent) was below the concentration of small businesses in the area (86 percent) but was above that of the aggregate market, which extended 38 percent of loans to these businesses. In San Francisco and San Mateo counties, lending to small businesses (48 percent) was below the concentration of small businesses (86 percent) but above the aggregate market (38 percent). In northern Santa Cruz County, lending to small businesses (47 percent) also was below the concentration of small businesses (91 percent) but above the aggregate market (38 percent). Geographic Distribution of Loans Geographic distribution of small business loans meets standards for satisfactory performance. Generally, the bank s activity reflects adequate dispersion among all income tracts within the assessment area. Although small business lending is below the distribution of businesses and aggregate lending in low- and moderate-income tracts, loan activity in middle- and upperincome tracts exhibit more favorable comparisons. Given the location of the bank s branches these distributions are considered reasonable. Consistent with the bank s referral based marketing efforts, loans were primarily extended near branch offices with no conspicuous gaps in lending patterns. Liberty Bank operates in a highly competitive market and competes with a variety of larger bank and non-bank institutions with larger branch networks. 2000 Census Tracts Business Concentration Small Business Loans Number Percent Aggregate Small Business Loans Low 14.4 10 10.3% 11.9 Moderate 19.9 16 16.5% 20.3 Middle 36.4 43 44.3% 37.3 Upper 29.3 28 28.9% 30.5-7 -
In San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, small business lending is below the distribution of businesses but above aggregate lending in low-income tracts. However, small business lending is above both the distribution of businesses and aggregate lending in moderate- and middleincome tracts. Distributions in upper-income areas compared less favorably than the other categories. In Northern Santa Cruz County, the bank made no loans in moderate-income tracts; however, distributions in middle- and upper-income tracts compared favorably to business concentration and aggregate lending totals. The moderate-income tracts in the area are primarily located in the city of Santa Cruz, which is a considerable distance from the bank s branches, and separated by a mountainous region which impacts the bank s referral-based marketing efforts. There are no low-income tracts in the county. Census Tract Income Category San Francisco and San Mateo Counties Bank Loans Business Concentration Aggregate Lending Bank Loans Northern Santa Cruz County Business Concentration Aggregate Lending Low 14.3 17.0 13.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 Moderate 22.9 21.7 21.8 0.0 13.4 15.1 Middle 41.4 34.4 35.9 60.9 58.8 55.8 Upper 21.4 27.0 28.6 39.1 27.8 29.2 Response to Complaints Liberty Bank received no CRA-related complaints since the previous examination. Accordingly, this component was not reviewed. Fair Lending or Other Illegal Credit Practices Review No violations of the substantive provisions of the anti-discrimination laws and regulations were identified at this examination. Additionally, there was no evidence of prohibitive lending practices. - 8 -
GLOSSARY OF TERMS Aggregate lending: The number of loans originated and purchased by all reporting lenders in specified income categories as a percentage of the aggregate number of loans originated and purchased by all reporting lenders in the metropolitan area/assessment area. Census tract: A small subdivision of metropolitan and other densely populated counties. Census tract boundaries do not cross county lines; however, they may cross the boundaries of metropolitan statistical areas. Census tracts usually have between 2,500 and 8,000 persons, and their physical size varies widely depending upon population density. Census tracts are designed to be homogeneous with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions to allow for statistical comparisons. Community development: All Agencies have adopted the following language. Affordable housing (including multifamily rental housing) for low- or moderate-income individuals; community services targeted to low- or moderate-income individuals; activities that promote economic development by financing businesses or farms that meet the size eligibility standards of the Small Business Administration s Development Company or Small Business Investment Company programs (13 CFR 121.301) or have gross annual revenues of $1 million or less; or, activities that revitalize or stabilize low- or moderate-income geographies. Effective September 1, 2005, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have adopted the following additional language as part of the revitalize or stabilize definition of community development. Activities that revitalize or stabilize: (i) Low-or moderate-income geographies; (ii) Designated disaster areas; or (iii) Distressed or underserved nonmetropolitan middle-income geographies designated by the Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, based on: a. Rates of poverty, unemployment, and population loss; or b. Population size, density, and dispersion. Activities that revitalize and stabilize geographies designated based on population size, density, and dispersion if they help to meet essential community needs, including needs of low- and moderate-income individuals. Consumer loan(s): A loan(s) to one or more individuals for household, family, or other personal expenditures. A consumer loan does not include a home mortgage, small business, or small farm loan. This definition includes the following categories: motor vehicle loans, credit card loans, home equity loans, other secured consumer loans, and other unsecured consumer loans. Family: Includes a householder and one or more other persons living in the same household who are related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. The number of family households always equals the number of families; however, a family household may also include non-relatives living with the family. Families are classified by type as either a married - 9 -
couple family or other family, which is further classified into male householder (a family with a male householder and no wife present) or female householder (a family with a female householder and no husband present). Full-scope review: Performance is analyzed considering performance context, quantitative factors (for example, geographic distribution and borrower distribution), and qualitative factors (for example, responsiveness). Geography: A census tract delineated by the United States Bureau of the Census in the most recent decennial census. Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA): The statute that requires certain mortgage lenders that do business or have banking offices in a metropolitan statistical area to file annual summary reports of their mortgage lending activity. The reports include such data as the race, gender, and the income of applications, the amount of loan requested, and the disposition of the application (for example, approved, denied, and withdrawn). Home mortgage loans: Includes home purchase and home improvement loans as defined in the HMDA regulation. This definition also includes multifamily (five or more families) dwelling loans, loans for the purchase of manufactured homes and refinancings of home improvement and home purchase loans. Household: Includes all persons occupying a housing unit. Persons not living in households are classified as living in group quarters. In 100 percent tabulations, the count of households always equals the count of occupied housing units. Limited-scope review: Performance is analyzed using only quantitative factors (for example, geographic distribution and borrower distribution). Low-income: Individual income that is less than 50 percent of the area median income, or a median family income that is less than 50 percent, in the case of a geography. Market share: The number of loans originated and purchased by the institution as a percentage of the aggregate number of loans originated and purchased by all reporting lenders in the metropolitan area/assessment area. Metropolitan area (MA): A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) or a metropolitan division (MD) as defined by the Office of Management and Budget. A MSA is a core area containing at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants, together with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. A MD is a division of a MSA based on specific criteria including commuting patterns. Only a MSA that has a population of at least 2.5 million may be divided into MDs. Middle-income: Individual income that is at least 80 percent and less than 120 percent of the area median income, or a median family income that is at least 80 percent and less than 120 percent, in the case of a geography. - 10 -
Moderate-income: Individual income that is at least 50 percent and less than 80 percent of the area median income, or a median family income that is at least 50 percent and less than 80 percent, in the case of a geography. Multifamily: Refers to a residential structure that contains five or more units. Other products: Includes any unreported optional category of loans for which the institution collects and maintains data for consideration during a CRA examination. Examples of such activity include consumer loans and other loan data an institution may provide concerning its lending performance. Owner-occupied units: Includes units occupied by the owner or co-owner, even if the unit has not been fully paid for or is mortgaged. Qualified investment: A qualified investment is defined as any lawful investment, deposit, membership share, or grant that has as its primary purpose community development. Rated area: A rated area is a state or multistate metropolitan area. For an institution with domestic branches in only one state, the institution s CRA rating would be the state rating. If an institution maintains domestic branches in more than one state, the institution will receive a rating for each state in which those branches are located. If an institution maintains domestic branches in two or more states within a multistate metropolitan area, the institution will receive a rating for the multistate metropolitan area. Small loan(s) to business(es): A loan included in 'loans to small businesses' as defined in the Consolidated Report of Condition and Income (Call Report) and the Thrift Financial Reporting (TFR) instructions. These loans have original amounts of $1 million or less and typically are either secured by nonfarm or nonresidential real estate or are classified as commercial and industrial loans. However, thrift institutions may also exercise the option to report loans secured by nonfarm residential real estate as "small business loans" if the loans are reported on the TFR as nonmortgage, commercial loans. Small loan(s) to farm(s): A loan included in loans to small farms as defined in the instructions for preparation of the Consolidated Report of Condition and Income (Call Report). These loans have original amounts of $500,000 or less and are either secured by farmland, or are classified as loans to finance agricultural production and other loans to farmers. Upper-income: Individual income that is more than 120 percent of the area median income, or a median family income that is more than 120 percent, in the case of a geography. - 11 -